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Vintage vehicles

The first batch having set off at 8am from Tattenham Corner, they made their way along Great Tattenhams and the A240 Reigate Road to Asda at Burgh Heath , before turning right onto the A217.

They then went through Kingswood, Lower Kingswood , Reigate Hill, Reigate , Woodhatch and Sidlow to Horley , all along the A217, before joining the Crawley bypass to Pease Pottage and heading down to Brighton via the A23.

A push was needed every now and then! (Image: Dave Comeau)

Paul Buckman, who lives in Vogan Close in Woodhatch, was up at Cockshot Hill and Dovers Green Road, near to the junction with Woodhatch Road, to capture the stunning bikes with his camera.

The 73-year-old said the smell of petrol got him out of bed each year, to watch the spectacle as it passed by his road.

Mr Buckman said: "I usually miss the start because I don't get up in time but I heard the roar and couldn't resist."

Chugging along (Image: Dave Comeau)

A handful of other people were at the traffic lights outside The Angel pub in Cockshot Hill to get a good glimpse of the motorcycles as they stopped, with many of them needing to be jump started each time they came to a halt.

And some occasionally backfired, giving spectators a jump start of their own.

This historic event, promoted by the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club, is the largest gathering of pre-1915 solos, sidecars and tricycles in the world.

All riders who make it to the end of the 47-mile route receive a medallion for their efforts.